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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Good to know, yeah, the OEM or Yakima might not be the sexiest around, but they do their job
How wide are these roof racks? Is it possible to put two bikes and a narrow long box on the roof?
Thule now list a 3080 fit kit for the M5, it seems everyone here used a 3069 kit, anyone know what the difference is besides the numbers? I want to remember someone saying their thule kit had front to back play, maybe the new kit addresses the issue???
Thule now list a 3080 fit kit for the M5, it seems everyone here used a 3069 kit, anyone know what the difference is besides the numbers? I want to remember someone saying their thule kit had front to back play, maybe the new kit addresses the issue???
that's just how mine looks. I had planned on shortening the spacers also, but haven't gotten around to it yet. good to know it's a 'thule approved' mod.Here is my experience with the 3069 kit:
It mounts each tower to the roof using a big rubber foot, a metal mounting plate, a threaded stud, a cylindrical spacer that goes over the stud, and a mounting bolt/lockwasher. The instructions say to use the spacer on Mazdas and discard it for Fords, but the spacers are about .125" too long, resulting in the feet not being quite flush with the roof, and the towers rocking fore-aft pretty easily.
Thule's first response was to tell me to just discard the spacers. That doesn't work so well, because the rubber foot doesn't put enough resistance against the mounting nut for it to stay secure (IMO). When I told them I had a lathe and the skills to be able to face the sleeves to the right length, they said that was the way to go. I ended up removing an eighth of an inch from each spacer using my metal lathe. Voila - perfect, snug fit.
Here are some pics from before I fixed the spacer issue. You can see the gap at the front of the tower - that gap disappeared once I shortened the spacers.
Here is my experience with the 3069 kit:
It mounts each tower to the roof using a big rubber foot, a metal mounting plate, a threaded stud, a cylindrical spacer that goes over the stud, and a mounting bolt/lockwasher. The instructions say to use the spacer on Mazdas and discard it for Fords, but the spacers are about .125" too long, resulting in the feet not being quite flush with the roof, and the towers rocking fore-aft pretty easily.
Based on those photos, the 3080 has certainly addressed the issue. The fit looks like was installed at the factory. Good to know the difference.
so i can't find the Thule 3080 fitkit ANYWHERE stateside...(found Petra Cycles in the UK has them in stock).
but the local REI has the 3069 kit in stock.
is it that bad of a fit to go w/ the 3069?
should I still try to get the 3080 at a later date, or will the 3069 hold just fine (once I take off 1/8" of the space)?